Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Defensive line depth key
Kiffin pleased with tenacious, veteran unit
BOCA RATON — Efforts to create a defensive resurgence under new FAU coordinator Glenn Spencer will start up front on the line.
FAU can have linebackers Rashad Smith and Akileis Leroy spearheading the defense in the heart of it, and a bevy of playmakers such as cornerback James Pierre flying around on the back end, but the play of the big boys up front facilitates things for all levels of the defense. That goes from consuming offensive linemen, so linebackers are free to roam and stop the run, making plays in the backfield themselves and getting opponents into obvious passing downs so they can apply a pass rush, which leads to sacks and interceptions.
Coach Lane Kiffin has been pleased with what he’s gotten this fall camp out of a true grown-man unit for the Owls, with a lot of fourthand fifth-year players, and even — in defensive tackle Ray Ellis’ case — sixth year. The team depth up front will help Kiffin, Spencer and new defensive line coach Lance Thompson keep players fresh and rotating.
“I think we have a lot of really good defensive linemen and lost a couple of seniors, but still got a lot of guys in there and one of our deeper positions,” Kiffin said, “which is really supposed to be your most important thing — is depth on the defensive line. That’s the one position, no matter what, that they can’t play the whole game. They’ve got to sub.”
Kiffin noted the fall camp play of redshirt senior defensive end Damian Horton, a spring standout, and redshirt junior David Belvin III, who is playing a hybrid defensive end/linebacker role in Spencer’s defense that’s referred to as the Leo. They have been revelations this offseason, and Kiffin believes new mentorship has catapulted them.
“Changing in coaches is always difficult, but there’s good and bad with that,” Kiffin said. “The good thing is, a lot of times when that happens, certain guys show up.”
When FAU plays four down linemen, Belvin will be in a three-point stance, but he, along with junior Leighton McCarthy, will play the Leo role that also involves snaps standing up at middle linebacker in a 3-4 look. Belvin has proven to be adept at learning the responsibilities of a complex role and versatile enough to drop back into coverage when asked.
“I take pride in that because I feel like it shows that you can take on the responsibility,” said Belvin, who is 6-foot-3, 240 pounds. “It’s not like we’re running one play. We’ve got different formations, different plays.”
He can envision himself intercepting passes in coverage in this scheme.
“If I get a pick, I’m trying to take it back,” Belvin said. “I’ve got the speed now, so hopefully I get the touchdown. If not, we got the turnover. Offense gets the ball. Now it’s their turn to score.”
Defensive tackle Noah Jefferson, who once played for USC and transferred in from Arizona Western during the season last fall, is growing comfortable after nearly a full year in Boca Raton. Having other veterans in the defensive line room, he says, has been beneficial for players to learn from each other.
“Ray Ellis, him being so strong and shorter and him teaching me little things like how to play with my hips – and he wrestled before too, so little things how to play and lean on people other than just try to fight power on power,” Jefferson noted. “[Redshirt senior defensive end] Tim Bonner, having a great first step. I’m 6-5, just like Tim, so me having [50] more pounds on my frame and learning from him, I feel, will benefit me a lot in the pass rush game. Or just talking to Damian Horton — effort. He’s always running to the ball, always being relentless.”
The depth and competition in camp brings urgency to players in camp.
“You have no room to take a play off because you’re going to get thrown out the club,” Jefferson said.
An identity Ellis, who is 6-foot-1 and 285 pounds, wants the defensive front to possess is tenacity.
“It does a lot, especially for opponents,” he said. “Opponents when they see things like that, they just want to back down. They’re like, ‘This defense is crazy. We don’t really want to play them. We really don’t want to mess with them ‘cause they just keep coming and coming. They have no fear.’ ”